Contents - Memoria Press

Contents
Teaching Guidelines..................................... iv
Drill Exercises.............................................. 78
Map.............................................................. 5
Book Summaries........................................... 85
Introduction to Virgil: Life and Context........ 6
Memorization Selections............................... 111
Book I........................................................... 8
Quizzes & Tests
Book II.......................................................... 12
Quiz: Books I-II............................................ 115
Book III........................................................ 16
Quiz Answer Key: Books I-II....................... 116
Book IV........................................................ 22
Quiz: Books III-IV........................................ 117
Book V......................................................... 28
Quiz Answer Key: Books III-IV................... 118
Book VI........................................................ 34
Midterm Exam: Books I-VI.......................... 119
Book VII....................................................... 40
Midterm Exam Answer Key: Books I-VI...... 126
Book VIII...................................................... 46
Quiz: Books VII-VIII.................................... 133
Book IX........................................................ 50
Quiz Answer Key: Books VII-VIII............... 134
Book X......................................................... 56
Quiz: Books IX-X......................................... 135
Book XI........................................................ 62
Quiz Answer Key: Books IX-X..................... 136
Book XII....................................................... 68
Final Exam.................................................... 137
Appendix
Final Exam Answer Key............................... 143
Maps............................................................. 76
Book I
The Book at a Glance
•Invocation of the Muses
•Juno’s rage against the Trojans
•Aeolus conjures up a storm at
Juno’s behest
•Trojans shipwreck on coast of N.
Africa, modern Tunisia
•Aeneas encourages his weary men
•Aeneas meets his mother Venus who
tells him of Carthage and queen Dido
•Aeneas wanders into Carthage
wrapped in a mist cloud
•Aeneas see comrades thought lost
•Aeneas reveals himself to Dido, who
hospitably greeted the Trojans
•Venus plots to “inflame the heart of
Dido” for Aeneas
•Dido, during her banquet for the
Trojans, asks Aeneas to recall his
journeys over the past 7 years
“I am aeneas, known for my devotion.”
Book I
Places & Characters: Identify the following. Mark starred (*) items on the map given in the back of this study guide.
1.
Troy* native city of aeneas (Aye nee yuhs); setting of Iliad; located on nW coast of asia Minor
2.
Lavinium
3.
Juno
5.
a port city in Italy, founded by aeneas, 19 miles south of Rome
The latin name for the Greek goddess Hera; the wife of Jupiter
Muse (Myooz) a goddess often invoked for inspiration and memory
Tyre* (like “tire”) located in ancient Phoenicia, modern lebanon; nW of Galilee, nnE of Jerusalem
6.
Carthage*
7.
Samos
8.
Sicily*
9.
Aeolus
4.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
(Lah vi nee yuhm)
(Joo no)
located in Modern Tunisia (N. Africa); almost directly south of Rome
Island in the aegean close to the coast of asia Minor; east of athens
(Khar thij)
(Sa moss)
large island directly below the peninsula of Italy
Place where the winds are kept in caverns; the king of aeolia (the place of the wheels)
Penates (Pe nah tayz) The latin gods of the household, along with the lares (Lah rayz)
Neptune (Nep toon) latin god of the seas; latin name for the Greek god Poseidon; Juno’s brother
Libya (Li bee yah) area in n. africa bordering modern Tunisia to the east; SE of Carthage
Jupiter (Joo puh tur) King of the gods and husband of Juno; latin name for the Greek god Zeus
Venus (Vee nuhs) Daughter of Jupiter; mother of aeneas; latin name for the Greek goddess aphrodite
Mercury (Mur cyoo ree) Messenger of the gods; latin name for the Greek god Hermes
(Si si lee)
(Ay yoh lee yah)
the companion of aeneas; rarely mentioned without the qualifier “faithful”
a son of Venus and the god of love; latin name for the Greek god Eros
18. Ascanius (Ah skay nee yuhs) Son of aeneas; also called Iulus
19. Dido (Dy doh) Founder and queen of Carthage; sister of Pygmalion; falls deeply in love with aeneas
16. Achates
17. Cupid
(Ah kay teez)
(Kyoo pid)
Comprehension Questions: Write your answers neatly on the lines provided. Please write in complete sentences,
giving the fullest answers possible.
1.
Juno favors the city of Carthage, which is fated
Why does Juno’s anger burn against the Trojans? ��������������������������������������
to be overthrown by the descendants of aeneas (the Romans). The ancient reader would understand
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this “taking over” to be the Punic Wars (1st: 264-241 BC; 2nd: 218-202 BC; 3rd: 149-146 BC). There also exists
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some residual “bad blood” for Troy because of Paris’ insult to her beauty. (pp. 3-4, Lns. 10-30)
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2.
What does Juno request from Aeolus? What does Juno offer in return for the favor? ������������
Because Jupiter gave aeolus power over the winds, Juno asks him to “whip up the winds,” and thus
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destroy aeneas’ ships. She promises him one of her fourteen nymphs, named Deiopeia. (p. 5, Lns. 61-70)
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8
Teacher Notes
Libya in Roman times could have various meanings.
Most commonly, it meant the region of No. Africa
between Carthage and Alexandria. In poetic terms,
however, it could mean either the northern coast of
Africa or the entire African continent. In this book,
Virgil uses it as the northern coast of Africa.
8 • Book I
The Aeneid
Book I: Storm and Banquet
3.
For what does Aeneas pray when he and his men are caught in Aeolus’ storm? ���������������
He asks in grief why he could not have died with honor in battle instead of dying in calamity.
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He says, “O Diomede, bravest of the Greeks, why could I not have fallen to your right hand and
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breathed out my life on the plains of Troy …?” (pp. 5-6, Lns. 90-100)
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4.
Book I
What is Neptune’s reaction to the storm incited by Aeolus?��������������������������������
neptune responds with great anger towards Juno and aeolus because they usurped his role as sole
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authority over the seas. He voices his anger to the winds, saying, “Is it your noble birth that has
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made you so sure of yourselves? Do you winds now dare to move heaven and earth and raise these
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Questions to Mark for Test
•Places and Characters: 3, 4, 10, 14, 18
•Comprehension Questions: 2, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 17
great masses of water without my divine authority?” (pp. 6-7, Lns. 130-140)
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5.
What does Aeneas say to comfort and encourage his men after they reach the shore? ����������
aeneas first tells his men that they have seen much worse before: “We have suffered worse before,
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and this too will pass.” He goes even further to say, “The day will come, perhaps, when it will give
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you pleasure to remember these things.” Essentially, they will all laugh about it someday. Secondly,
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aeneas gives them hope for a better future, saying, “There it is the will of God that the kingdom of
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Troy shall rise again. Your task is to endure and save yourselves for better days.” (pp. 8-9, Lns. 200-210)
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6.
With great passion, Venus presents two questions to
Summarize Venus’ complaint to Jupiter. �����������������������������������������������
Jupiter. First, what have aeneas and the Trojans done to deserve this suffering? and, second, has
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aeneas forgotten his promise to make these men into a great nation? Venus’ assumption is clear: a
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great nation cannot rise from a people destroyed or constantly suffering. Virgil’s wisdom, however,
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will prove different. a great nation can only arise through suffering. (pp. 9-10, Lns. 230-255)
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7.
Mercury is sent to soften the warlike hearts of the
What does Jupiter send Mercury to do? �����������������������������������������������
Carthaginians toward the trojans. the significance of this act will be revealed in Book iV. He does
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this to comfort Venus, who frets for the Trojans’ future. (p. 11)
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8.
Whom does Aeneas meet as he “walked through the middle of the wood”? How is she disguised?
aeneas meets his mother, Venus, disguised as a “Spartan girl out hunting.” aeneas, of course, does
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not recognize this woman as his mother until the middle of page 14. (p. 12, Lns. 312-320)
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Book I: Storm and Banquet
The Aeneid
9
Book I • 9
Book I
9.
answering aeneas’ request
Summarize the story of Dido conveyed to Aeneas by the goddess. �������������������������
to share “what sky this is we find ourselves at last beneath,” Venus responds that this land is ruled by
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Discussion Question Helps
queen dido. Originally from tyre, dido fled to Carthage in order to escape her brother, Pygmalion, who
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killed her husband, Sychaeus, for his wealth. This act was kept a secret from Dido until Sychaeus’ ghost
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revealed the crime to her. Dido then gathered a remnant of faithful men, “driven by savage hatred or
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1 You can find much of this information
lively fear of the Tyrant.” Dido and her followers then gathered a great wealth of gold and sailed out for
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in the introduction at the beginning of
a new home. now arriving at the place which would be called Carthage, Dido purchased a piece of land
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the guide, where I discuss the themes
large enough to be covered by an animal skin. But Dido would gain more land because the skin was cut
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into a large strip to cover a large piece of land. (Last paragraph on p. 12 to the middle of p. 13)
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of the work. There are, however, many
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other insights to share. The reader will
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notice how the prologue immediately
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attributes Aeneas’ suffering to the anger
aeneas is clearly
10. What is Aeneas’ reaction when he finds the Spartan woman to be his mother? ����������������
of the gods: “and a great pounding he
upset, supposing his mother deceived him when he needed help. “Why do you so often mock your
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took … at the hands of the heavenly
son by taking on these disguises?” aeneas says, “… You are too cruel.” (p. 14, Lns. 400-410)
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gods”; “How did [Aeneas] violate the
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will of the queen of the gods?”; “Can
The image is of busy bees.
11. What image does Virgil use to describe Carthage as Aeneas sees it? �����������������������
Virgil says, “They were like bees at the beginning of summer, busy in the sunshine all through the
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there be so much anger in the hearts of
flowery meadows, bringing out the young of the race, just come of age … the hive seethes with
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the heavenly gods?” It is no secret that
activity and the fragrance of honey flavoured with thyme is everywhere.” (p. 15, between Lns. 430 and 440)
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the divine beings of classical literature
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are just as petty and capricious as
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humans: they hold grudges, they play
While exploring the
12. What does Aeneas see that both allays his fears and causes him much grief? �����������������
favorites, they do things for no reason.
city of Carthage inside the mist cloud, he gazes upon the newly built temple of Juno, which contains
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elaborate depictions of the Trojan war, seemingly carved into the temple’s walls. (pp. 15-16, Lns. 450-460)
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One should not be shocked that the
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gods are understood this way. We
13. What is Ilioneus’ request of queen Dido? How does Dido respond to this request? �������������
look outside and see a general order,
Ilioneus requests that Dido take mercy on him and his men by letting them take port and restore
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but are often surprised at the world’s
their ships on her shores, so they can make their way to Italy “with joy in our hearts.” Dido
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irregularities. The great Christian
responds with grace and kindness, saying, “The city which I am founding is yours. Trojan and
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thinker and writer G. K. Chesterton
Tyrian will be as one …” (p. 19, Lns. 570-580)
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made a similar observation: “The
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commonest kind of trouble is that [the
In admiration for the resolve of aeneas
14. Upon meeting Aeneas, what does Dido do for the Trojans? �������������������������������
and his men amidst great trials, dido makes sacrifices to the gods, likely petitioning them for the
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world] is nearly reasonable, but not
Trojans’ safe travels. She then prepares a royal banquet for the men in her palace. (p. 21, Lns. 630-650)
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quite.” If the world, then, is irregular,
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it is understandable to say that those
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who rule the world’s affairs are equally
irregular and unpredictable. Surely, the
Book I: Storm and Banquet
The Aeneid
10
Christian approaches this question with
a different logic, for we don’t reason
fierce tribes of Italy, which we will see in the later
from the bottom up, but from the top
books. He will then establish his people for three
down. It’s not that the events of this world don’t
more years until his son Ascanius will move the
make sense; we just don’t have all the information.
people to the city of Alba Longa (a city near where
The secret things belong to the Lord. When things
Rome would stand). Ascanius will then rule for
don’t make sense, we are taught to have faith in the
thirty years, but the people will remain for three
One who makes sense of everything and who will
hundred years until the birth of Romulus and
one day reveal the sense behind all things. For now,
Remus. Referring to Romulus, then, “The walls
though, we are graciously inhibited. Our knees lack
he builds will be the walls of Mars and he shall
the strength to bear such truths. To the Christian,
give his own name to his people, the Romans.”
therefore, the irregularities are signs pointing to a
On these people, Jupiter adds, “I impose no limits
greater coherence. God’s truth is like a giant: we
of time or place. I have given them an empire
only see a part of the giant, for the giant is so large
that will know no end.” Rome, thus, is destined
that much of him is covered by the clouds. to rule. Ruling does not come easy, though. Rule
comes through war and struggle, innovation and
2 Jupiter reveals the history leading to the
perseverance. And these things are what define
founding of Rome, which begins with Aeneas.
the Roman people. But how is Aeneas the “father”
Rome’s history begins with Aeneas conquering the
10 • Book I
15. What plot does Venus devise as Dido and the Trojans banquet together? Why does she do this?
Book I
She sends Cupid in the form of ascanius to “inflame the heart of the queen, driving her to madness
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by the gifts and winding the fire of passion in her bones.” She does this because she feared “the
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Aeneas is the central hero, he possesses
a mystique and elusiveness. He is an
Venus’ hatred for Dido motivated her actions as well. (pp. 21-22, Lns. 650-680)
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“off-center” hero. Though the spotlight
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is on him, we still see shadows. Why do
Falling over herself in
16. Now caught in a stupor of love, what does Dido request of Aeneas? ������������������������
we encounter this mystique? Aeneas
infatuation for aeneas, Dido requests to hear of his journeys that led him to Carthage, “the
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never stays long at the center because
sufferings of your people and your own wanderings.” This request provides a springboard into
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Aeneas is a hero always moving forward
Book II. (p. 24, Lns. 750 ff. )
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with head and shoulders down, moving
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through his trials as we move against
Within Dido’s request, we read, “for
17. How long have the Trojans been at sea since the fall of Troy? �����������������������������
storm winds. Fame and glory is not as
(p.
24,
Lns.
750
ff.
)
this
is
now
the
seventh
summer
that
has
carried
you
…”—about
seven
years.
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central with Aeneas and the Aeneid as
it is with Achilles and the Iliad. Aeneas
Quotations: Read over the quotes below carefully. Make sure you can identify the context of each quote.
does
not seek after glory anymore; he is
*I sing of arms and of the man, fated to be an exile, who long since left the land of Troy and came to Italy
to the shores of Lavinium; and a great pounding he took by land and sea at the hands of the heavenly gods
only
trying
to survive. Glory is now only
because of the fierce and unforgetting anger of Juno. Great too were his sufferings in war before he could
a hope for the future, a hope which can
found his city and carry his gods into Latium. This was the beginning of the Latin race, the Alban fathers and
the high walls of Rome. Tell me, Muse, the causes of her anger. How did he violate the will of the Queen of
be ensured through his perseverance.
the Gods? What was his offence? Why did she drive a man famous for his piety to such endless hardships and
such suffering? Can there be so much anger in the hearts of the heavenly gods?
For this reason, the Aeneid may be
considered the most Christian of the
“My friends, this is not the first trouble we have known. We have suffered worse before, and this too will
three great epics. Glory is not a present
pass. God will see to it. … So summon up your courage once again. This is no time for gloom or fear. The
day will come, perhaps, when it will give you pleasure to remember even this. Whatever chance may bring,
reality, but a future hope that is given
however many hardships we suffer, we are making for Latium, where the Fates show us our place of rest.
after perseverance and suffering. The
There it is the will of God that the kingdom of Troy shall rise again. Your task is to endure and save yourselves
for better days.” These were his words, but he was sick with all his cares. He showed them the face of hope
author of Hebrews conveys a similar
and kept his misery deep in his heart.
point, using the example of Christ, “who
Discussion Questions: Discuss in class and/or respond in essay form on a separate sheet of paper.
for the joy that was set before Him endured
1. What can the reader surmise about the Aeneid’s main themes from the first paragraph?
the cross, despising the shame, and is
2. According to Jupiter, as he reveals the content of the scroll of the Fates, how is Rome founded?
seated at the right hand of the throne of
What will the Romans be like? How is Aeneas the “father” of Rome?
God.” (Hebrews 12:2) Christians have
3. Describe Aeneas as a leader from the opening book of this epic. What predominant characteristic
describes him? Where do we see this characteristic? What does the personality of Aeneas tell us
held true that glory comes after struggle,
about the main themes and purpose of the work?
and it appears that Virgil held the same.
Let the Christian, however, not forget
the important difference. Because of our
Book I: Storm and Banquet
The Aeneid
11
hope, Christians may endure struggles
with joy. We read in James 1:2, “Count it
all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials
of these people? First, literally, he is the founder
of various kinds.” Christians are a people who have
of the Roman people. He is the leader of the
joy as the primary tune in life’s symphony; joy is
people who would become the Romans. Aeneas,
more fundamental to the Christian than sorrow
additionally, is the father of the Romans by being
and struggle. This is not true with Aeneas. Why,
himself the prototypical Roman. In Aeneas lies
then, must Christians struggle? Because God is
all that the Romans are and wish to be. Aeneas
gracious. Chesterton eloquently and wisely said,
himself is a man of war, struggle, innovation, and
“We are perhaps permitted tragedy as a sort of
perseverance. Therefore, Aeneas is the father of
merciful comedy: because the frantic energy of
Rome by founding a people who would become
divine things would knock us down like a drunken
like him; like father, like son. (Quotes may be found
farce. We can take our own tears more lightly than
on pages 10 and 11 in the text.)
we can take the levities of the angels.” To Aeneas,
life is tragedy, and comedy is a merciful respite. To
3 The Aeneid introduces the reader to a weary
the Christian, the paradigm is flipped: life is a great
leader who has learned to persevere. He is not as
comedy with tragedy as a merciful respite from the
eloquent and cunning as Odysseus, nor as bellicose
daunting weight of heaven’s glory. ■ and bombastic as Achilles. In fact, the reader
double-tongued people of Tyre,” and the possibility of Juno’s hospitality keeping aeneas in
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Carthage instead of fulfilling his fate as founder of the people of rome. the text also suggests that
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- Virgil’s poetic summary of the work and
invocation of the Muse (p. 3, Lns. 1-11)
- Aeneas encouraging his men, and Virgil commenting on his courage (pp. 8-9, Lns. 200-208)
encounters a strange paradox in the Aeneid: though
Book I • 11